As ye acknowledge few Sacraments, so ye speak of them very slenderly. Baptism (ye say) is a Sacrament of the remission of sins, and of that washing which we have in the Blood of Christ. Now whereas ye mean, as within few lines ye declare, by the name of a Sacrament, *no more but a Token or Sign, specially sith ye teach in your articles that Baptism at the best, is but a Sign, and Seal of our new birth: ye seem not to attribute to Baptism so much, as the Scripture doth. Neither is Baptism only a Sign or Token, that sins be remitted, but, we believe, as the Catholic Church, according to the Scriptures teacheth, that in, and by Baptism sins be fully, and ⟨p. 215⟩truly remitted,2 and put away: and that not through the Faith* only of the giver, or receiver, or of any other, though hereunto it be necessary in th•se, that be come to age of discretion: but through the power, and virtue of the Sacrament, and Gods promise. And therefore to whom it is given, of them it is rightly said, that, they be Baptized for remission of their sins. The scriptures be plain. First Ezekiel speaking of this Holy Sacrament, saith in the person of God: I will shed upon you clean water, and ye shall be made clean from all your defilings, and from your Idols will I cleanse you. Next S. Paul saith, That God hath saved us by the washing of Regeneration, and of the renewing of the Holy Ghost, whom he hath poured upon us abundantly by Jesus Christ our Saviour. That I may add to these manifest Scriptures the Authority of a Learned Father, not whereby to strengthen the truth of them, but to witness our right understanding of them: S. Augustine, Lib. 3. contra duas epist. Pelagian. Cap. 3. showing the slander of the Pelagians against the Catholics, saith thus in their Person: Again they (that is, after their meaning, the Catholics) avouch, that Baptism maketh not in deed new men again, that is to wit, that it giveth not full remission of sins, &c. Thereto eftsoons answering S. Augustine saith, *Mentiuntur, 5jusidiantur, tergiversantur. They lye, they study how to deceive, they seek shifts: we say not this. And after certain sentences returning to Baptism, he concludeth thus: Wherefore Baptism washeth away all sins, utterly all, of deeds, words, thoughts, be they Original, or Actual:
As ye acknowldege fewe Sacramentes, so ye speake of them very slenderly. Baptisme (ye saie) is a Sacramente of the remission of sinnes, and of that wasshinge whiche wee haue in the Bloude of Christe. Now whereas ye meane, as within fewe lines ye declare, by the name of a Sacramente, *no more but a Token or Signe, specially sith ye teache in your articles that Baptisme at the best, is but a Signe, and Seale of our newe birthe: ye seme not to attribute to Baptisme so mutche, as the Scripture dothe. Neither is Baptisme onely a Signe or Tokē, that sinnes be remitted, but, wee beleeue, as the Catholique Churche, according to the Scriptures teacheth, that in, and by Baptisme sinnes be fully, and ⟨p. 215⟩truely remitted,2 and put awaie: and that not through the Faithe* onely of the geuer, or receiuer, or of any other, though hereunto it be necessarie in th•se, that be come to age of discretion: but through the power, and vertue of the Sacrament, and Gods promise. And therefore to whom it is geuen, of them it is rightly saide, that, they be Baptized for remission of their sinnes. The scriptures be plaine. Firste Ezechiel speakinge of this Holy Sacrament, saithe in the person of God: I wilshed vpon you cleane water, and ye shal be made cleane from al your defilinges, and from your Idols wil I clense you. Nexte S. Paule saithe, That God hath saued vs by the wasshinge of Regeneration, and of the renewing of the Holy Ghoste, whom he hath powred vpon vs aboundantly by Iesus Christe our Sauiour. That I maie adde to these manifest Scriptures the Auctoritie of a Learned Father, not whereby to strengthen the truthe of them, but to witnesse our right vnderstandinge of them: S. Augustine, Lib. 3. contra duas epist. Pelagian. Cap. 3. shewinge the sclaunder of the Pelagians againste the Catholikes, saithe thus in theire Persone: Againe they (that is, after theire meaninge, the Catholikes) auouche, that Baptisme maketh not in deede newe menne againe, that is to witte, that it geueth not ful remission of sinnes, &c. Thereto eftsones answearinge S. Augustine saithe, *Mentiuntur, 5iusidiantur, tergiuersantur. They lye, they studye howe to deceiue, they seeke shiftes: wee saie not this. And after certaine sentences retourninge to Baptisme, he concludeth thus: VVherefore Baptisme wassheth awaie al sinnes, vtterly al, of dedes, wordes, thoughtes, be they Original, or Actual:
- *Untruth. For we say no• so.Vntruthe. For vve saie no• so.
- 2That in Baptism sins be fully and truly forgiven. Cap. 36. Timot. 3.That in Baptisme sinnes be fully and truly forgeuen. Cap. 36. Timot. 3.
- *This talk is needless, and out of season.This talke is needelesse, and out of season.
- *These words may well pertain to M. Har. him self. For we say not thus.These vvoordes maie vvel perteine to M. Har. him selfe. For vve sai not thus.
- 5Pelagians belied the Catholics as the Sacramentaries do also now.Pelagians belied the Catholikes as the Sacramentaries do also novve.
